Representatives from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah and Montana have determined that the 2023 crop has great potential. Dan Davis, director of business development, said, “Volume and quality looks great right now, fruit seems to be evenly spaced through the tree and setting up for a nice fruit size year.”

After an initially cool spring, the last few weeks have seen consistent stretches of 80 degree days –– optimal weather for sugar development in cherries.

Honeybear Brands has acquired two separate facilities in Pateros, WA, the purchase of the Big River cherry facility will bolster the Honeybear northern Washington operations by providing additional supply and production capabilities.

The Northwest cherry season may just be a season long, but farming is a year-round process. Winter is a time for pruning for light and size, explained Catherine Gipe-Stewart, director of marketing at Superfresh Growers.

“Many of our orchard blocks are showing nice size potential for this summer crop due to pruning from earlier this year,” said Gipe-Stewart. The Yakima based grower said they will have plenty of promotional opportunities for their jumbo cherry brand, Super Cherry."

After a cool spring spent lounging in the breeze, the Northwest cherry crop has sprung to life with quality and volume.

“There is great potential relative to crop volume and fruit size,” said B.J. Thurlby, president of Northwest Cherries, based in Yakima, WA. Northwest cherry growers round 1 estimate, projects 19 million 20 pound boxes for the 2023 crop size, a 50 percent increase over last year.

Hood River Cherry Co.’s orchards are situated in a pristine river valley off the Columbia River Gorge, flanked by the monolith that is Mt. Hood. The topography matters to the company, the community, and the fruit. “Our fruit enjoys consistently warm days and then we get the big temperature swing at night with airflow up the Gorge off the Pacific,” said Kristoff Fowler, field manager at Hood River, who maps out the geography.

The Northwest cherry season is fast-approaching, and Sage Fruit Co. of Yakima, WA, is well-positioned for an excellent size crop, with high-quality cherries.